UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
(Amendment No.)
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PC CONNECTION, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
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PC CONNECTION, INC.
730 Milford Road
Merrimack, New Hampshire 03054
(603) 683-2000
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held May 21, 200825, 2011
The 20082011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of PC Connection, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 2 Somerset Parkway (Exit 8 off the Everett Turnpike), Nashua, New Hampshire on Wednesday, May 21, 200825, 2011 at 10:00 a.m., Eastern time, to consider and act upon the following matters:
1. | To elect six directors to serve until the |
2. | To |
3. | To ratify the selection by the Audit Committee of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, |
4. | To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. |
Stockholders of record at the close of business on April 2, 20088, 2011 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting or any adjournments thereof. Our stock transfer books will remain open. All stockholders are cordially invited to attend the meeting.
By Order of the Board of Directors, |
Patricia Gallup |
Chairman of the Board and |
Chief Executive Officer |
Merrimack, New Hampshire
April 10, 200815, 2011
WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY AND MAIL IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE IN ORDER TO ENSURE REPRESENTATION OF YOUR SHARES AT THE MEETING. NO POSTAGE NEED BE AFFIXED IF THE PROXY IS MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.
PC CONNECTION, INC.
730 Milford Road
Merrimack, New Hampshire 03054
PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE 20082011 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held On May 21, 200825, 2011
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by PC Connection, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) by our Board of Directors, for our 20082011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, or the Annual Meeting, to be held on Wednesday, May 21, 200825, 2011 at 10:00 a.m., Eastern time, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 2 Somerset Parkway (Exit 8 off the Everett Turnpike), Nashua, New Hampshire or any adjournment or adjournments of the Annual Meeting. You may obtain directions to the location of the meeting by contacting Investor Relations at 603-683-2322. All proxies will be voted in accordance with the stockholders’ instructions. If no choice is specified, the proxies will be voted in favor of the matters set forth in the accompanying Notice of Meeting. Any proxy may be revoked by a stockholder at any time before its exercise by delivery of a written revocation or a subsequently dated proxy to our secretary or by voting in person at the Annual Meeting.
The Notice of Meeting, this Proxy Statement, the enclosed proxy, and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20072010 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, and our Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31, 20072010 are being mailed to stockholders on or about April 28, 2008.25, 2011.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be Held on May 25, 2011
This proxy statement, form of proxy, and our 2010 Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2010 are available athttp://ir.pcconnection.com.
Voting Securities and Votes Required
On April 2, 2008,8, 2011, the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting, there were outstanding and entitled to vote an aggregate of 26,835,83726,904,774 shares of our common stock, $.01 par value per share, or the Common Stock. Stockholders are entitled to one vote per share of Common Stock. Our stock record books will remain open for inspection by stockholders of record for ten days prior to the Annual Meeting at our offices at the above address and at the time and place of the Annual Meeting.
The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be considered as present for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present.
The affirmative vote of the holders of a plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is required for the election of directors. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock present or represented by proxy and voting at the Annual Meeting is required for the approval of Proposalsthe amendment to the Company’s Executive Bonus Plan and the ratification of the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the current year.
Persons who hold shares on the record date through a broker, bank, or other nominee are considered beneficial owners. Brokers holding shares must vote according to specific instructions they receive from the
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beneficial owners of those shares. If brokers do not receive specific instructions, brokers may in some cases vote the shares in their discretion. However, brokers holding shares in “street name” for their beneficial owners are prohibited from voting on behalf of the clients in uncontested director elections and certain other non-routine matters unless the brokers have received specific voting instructions from those clients. Accordingly, a broker cannot vote shares held on behalf of a beneficial owner on Items 1 or 2 regarding the election of directors and 3.
the amendment to our Executive Bonus Plan, respectively, unless such broker has received specific voting instructions from the beneficial owner. However, a broker will have discretion to vote shares held on behalf of a beneficial owner on Item 3, the ratification of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2011, even if such broker has not received specific voting instructions from the beneficial owner. Shares that abstain from voting in a particular matter, and shares held in “street name” by brokers ofor nominees who indicate on their proxies that they do not have discretionary authority to vote such shares as to a particular matter, will not be counted as votes in favor of such matter and will also not be counted as votes cast or shares voting on such matter. Abstentions and “broker non-votes” will have no effect on the voting on matters, such as the ones presented for stockholder approval at this Annual Meeting, that require the affirmative vote of a certain percentage of the shares voting on the matter.
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
TheUnless otherwise provided below, the following table sets forth, as of January 31, 2008,February 1, 2011, the beneficial ownership of our Common Stock by: (i) persons known by us to own more than 5% of our outstanding shares; (ii) each of our directors; (iii) each of our named executive officers in the Summary Compensation Table under the heading “Executive Compensation” below; and (iv) all our current directors and executive officers as a group. Unless otherwise indicated, each person has sole investment and voting power, or shares such power with his or her spouse, with respect to the shares set forth in the following table. The inclusion in this table of any shares deemed beneficially owned does not constitute an admission of beneficial ownership of those shares.
Except as otherwise set forth below, the street address of each beneficial owner is c/o PC Connection, Inc., 730 Milford Road, Merrimack, New Hampshire 03054.
Name | Shares of Common Stock Beneficially | Percentage of Common Stock | ||||||
Patricia Gallup | 8,714,094 | (3) | 32.4 | % | ||||
David Hall | 8,358,789 | (4) | 31.1 | |||||
Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc. | 2,251,740 | (5) | 8.4 | |||||
Timothy McGrath | 435,604 | (6) | 1.6 | |||||
David Beffa-Negrini | * | |||||||
Jack Ferguson | 131,886 | (7) | * | |||||
Donald Weatherson | 47,000 | (8) | ||||||
| ||||||||
| ||||||||
| * | |||||||
Joseph Baute | 22,000 | * | ||||||
Barbara Duckett | 5,000 | * | ||||||
All | 17,922,904 | 65.8 |
* | Less than 1% of the total number of our outstanding shares of Common Stock on |
(1) | The number of shares beneficially owned by each director or executive officer is determined under rules promulgated by the SEC, and the information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Under such rules, beneficial ownership includes any shares as to which the individual has the sole or shared voting power or investment power and also any shares which the individual has the right to acquire as of |
(2) | The number of shares of Common Stock deemed outstanding for purposes of determining such percentages |
(3) | Includes 8,169,094 shares of Common Stock held of record by the 1998 PC Connection Voting Trust and 15,000 shares held by Ms. Gallup’s spouse, as to which Ms. Gallup disclaims beneficial ownership. Ms. Gallup has the sole power to vote or direct the vote as to 530,000 shares and dispose or direct the disposition of 8,699,094 shares. Ms. Gallup has shared voting power as to 16,338,188 shares. |
(4) | Includes 8,169,094 shares of Common Stock held of record by the 1998 PC Connection Voting Trust. Mr. Hall has the sole power to vote or direct the vote as to |
(5) | The information presented herein is as reported in, and based solely upon, a Schedule 13G/A (Amendment No. |
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furnishes investment advice to four investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of |
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1940, and serves as investment manager to certain other commingled group trusts and separate accounts (together with the investment companies, the “Funds”). All shares of our Common Stock listed as owned by Dimensional |
(6) | Includes |
(7) | Includes |
(8) |
(9) |
Includes 2,500 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options which Mr. Baute has the right to acquire within 60 days after |
Includes an aggregate of |
PROPOSAL ONE
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Directors are to be elected at the Annual Meeting. Our Board of Directors is currently fixed at six members. Our Bylaws provide that our directors will be elected at each annual meeting of our stockholders to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders or until their successors are duly elected and qualified.
The persons named in the enclosed proxy (Patricia Gallup and David Hall) will vote to elect the six nominees named below as our directors unless authority to vote for the election of any or all of the nominees is withheld by marking the proxy to that effect. Each nominee is presently serving as a director, and each nominee has consented to being named in this Proxy Statement and to serve, if elected. If for any reason any nominee should be unable to serve, the person acting under the proxy may vote the proxy for the election of a substitute nominee designated by our Board of Directors. It is not presently expected that any of the nominees will be unavailable to serve, if elected.
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Our Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” the election of the nominees described below.
Set forth below are the name, age, and length of service as a director for each nominee of our Board of Directors and the positions and offices held by him or her, his or her principal occupation and business experience for at least the past five years, and the names of other publicly-held companies of which he or she serves as a director.director or served as a director during the past five years. Information with respect to the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by each director or nominee, directly or indirectly, as of January 31, 2008,February 1, 2011, appears under “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.”
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Nominees for Election to our Board of Directors
Patricia Gallup, age 54,57, is our Chairman President, and Chief Executive Officer. SheMs. Gallup is a co-founder of our Company, and has served on our Board of Directors since its inception and has been Chairman since 1998. Ms. Gallup is one of our co-founders and has served as an executive officer since 1982. She was Chief Executive Officer from 1990 to 2001, and from September 2002 to the present. She has served as our President since March 2003.
David Hall, age 58,61, is one of our co-foundersa co-founder and has served on our Board of Directors since its inception. Mr. Hall served as Vice Chairman of our Board of Directors from March 1998 to December 2004. Mr. Hall was an executive officer from 1982 to 1997, and since then has served as a project manager and advisor toan analyst for our Company.
Bruce Barone, age 58, has served on our Board of Directors since June 2002. Since December 1998, he has worked as an independent consultant. Prior to December 1998, Mr. Barone was the President and CEO of Overseas Partners Ltd, a global reinsurance and real estate company, and served in a variety of senior financial positions at United Parcel Service.
Joseph Baute, age 80,83, has served on our Board of Directors since June 2001. From 1979 to 1993, Mr. Baute served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Markem Corporation, an industrial marking and coding solutions provider. Since 1993, Mr. Baute has worked as an independent consultant. Mr. Baute has served on the board of directors of several public companies.and private companies as well as non-profit organizations, including the Federal Reserve in Boston, State Street Bank, and Houghton-Mifflin Company.
David Beffa-Negrini,age 54,57, has served on our Board of Directors since September 1994. Mr. Beffa-Negrini has served as our Senior Vice President, Corporate Marketing and Creative Services sincefrom February 2007.2007 until his retirement effective December 31, 2008. Mr. Beffa-Negrini served as Co-President of our Merrimack Services subsidiary from September 2005 to February 2007 and as our Vice President of Corporate Communications from June 2000 to February 2007. Mr. Beffa-Negrini has served in a variety of senior management capacities in the areas of merchandising, marketing, and communications. Hecommunications during his 25 years of employment by the Company.
Barbara Duckett, age 66, has served on our Board of Directors since June 2009. Since October 2000, Ms. Duckett has served as the President, Chief Executive Officer, and as a member of the board of directors of Home Healthcare, Hospice and Community Services. Ms. Duckett serves as a member of the board of directors of the Home Care Association of New Hampshire and has been an employee since 1983.a director or officer of several other non-profit and privately-held healthcare organizations, at both the local and national level.
Donald Weatherson,age 70,73, has served on our Board of Directors since June 2005. Mr. Weatherson served on the board of directors of our GovConnection subsidiary from May 2003 to June 2005. Since August 2002, Mr. Weatherson has pursued personal and community interests and served on an interim basis as Chief Executive Officer of GovConnection from November 2003 to May 2004. From April 1994 to July 2002, Mr. Weatherson served in a variety of senior executive positions at Compaq Computer Corporation. From 1990Prior to 1993,joining Compaq, Mr. Weatherson was Chief Executive Officer of the Navy Exchange System, a retail services company operated by the U.S. Navy. He retired from the Navy as a Rear Admiral in 1993. Mr. Weatherson also servesserved as Chairman of the Board of Enliven Marketing Technologies Corporation, an internet service marketing company.company, from February 2006 to October 2008.
We believe that each of our directors is qualified to serve as a director of the Company as a result of his or her level of business experience described in the individual biographies above. Each director has served in a broad range of senior management roles, and some have served on other boards of directors. The Board concluded that the depth of experience and the combination of the different backgrounds of each of our directors facilitates the Company’s goal of having a diversity of viewpoints and backgrounds on the Board, and gives the Company a broad range of experience on which to draw. Accordingly, the Board concluded that each of these individuals should serve as a director of the Company, in light of its business and structure, at the time of filing this proxy. In particular:
Ms. Gallup is a co-founder of the Company and has served as an executive, director, or corporate officer of the Company for over 28 years and, as a result, has in-depth knowledge of the information technology (IT) industry and our business. She also has experience serving as a board member of other companies, both public and private.
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Mr. Hall is a co-founder of the Company and has served as an executive, director, or corporate officer of the Company for over 28 years and, as a result, has in-depth knowledge of the IT industry and our business.
Mr. Baute has substantial experience as Chief Executive Officer of an industrial solutions provider. Combined with his board-level experience with several public and private companies, as well as the Federal Reserve, Mr. Baute brings to the Board a broad range of business, financial, and accounting knowledge and experience.
Mr. Beffa-Negrini has served the Company in a variety of leadership roles and senior management positions, and has more than 25 years of experience in the IT industry. These qualifications provide the Board with both insight into the organizational development of the Company, along with a broad knowledge base of the industry.
Ms. Duckett has significant executive management and board-level experience with numerous organizations in the healthcare industry. Accordingly, Ms. Duckett brings to the Board strong business knowledge as well as insight into the growing healthcare industry, which is a sector the Company serves.
Mr. Weatherson has substantial business and financial knowledge and experience in the government arena, which is particularly useful to the Board in serving our Public Sector customer segment. Additionally, he has had executive experience with one of our major suppliers, giving him additional knowledge of the industry in which we operate.
No family relationship exists between any of our executive officers or directors.
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INFORMATION CONCERNING DIRECTORS, NOMINEES, AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Board Meetings and Attendance
Our Board of Directors met fourfive times during the year ended December 31, 2007,2010, either in person or by teleconference. During 2007,2010, each director attended at least 75% of the aggregate of the number of Board meetings and the number of meetings held by all committees on which he or she then served. Our Board of Directors does not currently have a policy with regard to the attendance of board members at our annual meeting of stockholders. TwoAll board members, Ms. Gallup andexcept Mr. Baute,Hall, attended our 20072010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Board Committees
Our Board of Directors has established two standing committees – committees–Audit and Compensation. The Audit and Compensation Committees each operate under written charters that have been approved by our Board of Directors. You can request a copy of these documents by writing to Investor Relations, PC Connection, Inc., 730 Milford Road, Merrimack, New Hampshire 03054. We included the charters of the Committeestwo committees as appendixes to our 20072010 Proxy Statement which can be obtained by accessing the website maintained by the SEC atwww.sec.gov, by accessing our website athttp://ir.pcconnection.com, or by contacting our investor relations department at PC Connection, Inc., Rt. 101A, 730 Milford Road, Merrimack, New Hampshire 03054.
Our Board of Directors has determined that all of the members of each of theour two standing committees of our Board of Directors are independent as defined under the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market including, in the case of all members of the Audit Committee, the independence requirements contemplated by Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act.
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Audit Committee
The Audit Committee’s responsibilities include:
appointing, approving the compensation of, and assessing the independence of our independent registered public accounting firm;
overseeing the work of our independent registered public accounting firm, including through the receipt and consideration of certain reports from the independent registered public accounting firm;
reviewing and discussing with management and the independent registered public accounting firm our annual and quarterly financial statements and related disclosures;
monitoring our internal control over financial reporting, disclosure controls and procedures, and code of business conduct and ethics;
overseeingdiscussing our internal audit function;
discussing ourrisk assessment and risk management policies;
establishing policies regarding hiring employees from the independent registered public accounting firm and procedures for the receipt and retention of accounting related complaints and concerns;
meeting independently with our internal auditing staff, independent registered public accounting firm, and management;
reviewing and approving or ratifying any related person transactions; and
preparing the audit committee report required by SEC rules (which is included on page 2514 of this Proxy Statement).
The members of our Audit Committee are Ms. Duckett and Messrs. Barone, Baute and Weatherson. Our Board of Directors has determined that each of our Audit Committee membersboth Messrs. Baute and Weatherson would qualify as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by applicable SEC rules. The Audit Committee met sixfive times during 2007.2010.
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Compensation Committee and Subcommittee
The Compensation Committee’s responsibilities include:
annually reviewing and approving corporate goals and objectives relevant to CEO compensation;
determiningreviewing and approving, or recommending for approval by the Board of Directors, our CEO’s compensation;
reviewing and approving, or making recommendations to ourrecommending for approval by the Board of Directors, with respect to, the compensation of our other executive officers;
overseeing evaluations of our senior executives;
overseeing and administering our cash and equity incentive plans; and
reviewing and making recommendations to our Board of Directors with respect to director compensation;
reviewing and discussing annually with management our “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” which is included beginning on page 10 of this Proxy Statement; and
preparing the compensation committee report required by SEC rules, which is included on page 18 of this Proxy Statement.compensation.
The processes and procedures followed by our Compensation Committee in considering and determining executive and director compensation are described below under the heading “Executive and Director Compensation Processes.”
The Compensation Committee met twicethree times in 2007.2010. The members of the Compensation Committee are Ms. Duckett and Messrs. Barone, Baute and Weatherson. The Compensation Committee has established a subcommittee and delegated to that subcommittee authority to issue equity awards and to determine other qualified performance-based compensation in accordance with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue
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Code. The Subcommittee is comprised of Messrs. BaroneMr. Baute and Baute,Ms. Duckett, who are “outside directors” under IRS regulations, met once during 2007regulations.
Controlled Company Status
We are a “Controlled Company” as defined in Nasdaq Stock Market Rule 5615(c). Our Board of Directors has based this determination on the fact that approximately 63% of our voting stock is beneficially owned or controlled by Ms. Gallup and approvedMr. Hall.
We do not have a standing nominating committee, and the executive officer bonus paymentsfunctions of evaluating and selecting directors have been performed by our Board of Directors as a whole. We believe that it is not necessary to have a nominating committee because our directors have generally served for fiscal year 2006.extended terms. Our Board of Directors will from time to time evaluate biographical information and background material relating to potential candidates and interview selected candidates. Our Board of Directors does not currently have a charter or written policy with regard to the nomination process. We do not have a written policy due to the extended terms served by our directors.
Board Leadership Structure
Ms. Gallup, our Chief Executive Officer, is also the Chairman of our Board of Directors; our leadership structure does not include a lead independent director. In light of our controlled company status discussed above, we believe that the creation of a lead independent director position is not necessary at this time. Our Board of Directors has determined that having the same individual hold both positions is in the best interests of PC Connection, Inc. and our stockholders and consistent with good corporate governance for the following reasons:
Our Chief Executive Officer is more familiar with our business and strategy than an independent, non-employee Chairman would be and is thus better positioned to focus our Board’s agenda on the key issues facing our company.
A single Chairman and Chief Executive Officer provides strong and consistent leadership for PC Connection, Inc., without risking overlap or conflict of roles.
Oversight of our company is the responsibility of our Board as a whole, and this responsibility can be properly discharged without an independent Chairman.
Director Independence
Under applicable NASDAQ rules, a director will only qualify as an “independent director” if, in the opinion of our Board of Directors, that person does not have a relationship which would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Our Board of Directors has determined that none of Ms. Duckett or Messrs. Baute Barone, or Weatherson, who comprise our Audit and Compensation Committees, has a relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Each of Messrs. Barone, Baute and Weatherson and Ms. Duckett is an “independent director” as defined under Nasdaq Stock Market Inc. Marketplace Rule 4200(a)(15)5605(a)(2). We are exempt from the requirement that our board have a majority of independent directors because we are a controlled company. Please see “Controlled Company Status” above for information on our controlled company status.
Executive and Director Compensation Processes
Our Compensation Committee generally reviews employee performance and compensation on an annual basis. When possible, our Compensation Committee also compares the salaries of our executive officers to salaries of individuals who hold comparable positions in our immediate peer group. The Compensation Committee retainedmakes salary determinations based on number of factors, including the serviceslevel and breadth of Pearl Meyer & Partners,each
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executive officer’s responsibilities and experience. Salary decisions are also made with a national consulting firm,view to conduct a competitive assessment in 2005 ofretaining our executive compensation for fiscal year 2006. Pearl Meyer & Partners provided to the Compensation Committee three studies as described further in our Compensation Discussion and Analysis. These studies compiled individual compensation ranges for each executive position and compared this information to each executive’s actual salary level. These studies and the related ranges were updated in 2007 by our management to reflect current market conditions. The Compensation Committee targeted the median base salary of the survey data and adjusted the executive’s salary based on evaluation of the executive’s level of responsibility and experience as well as company-wide performance.talent. The Compensation Committee may, in its discretion, invite the Chief Executive Officer to be present during the approval of, or deliberations with respect to, other executive officer compensation.compensation, and our Chief Executive Officer may make recommendations relating to the salaries of our other executive officers.
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We adoptedOur shareholders approved in 2008 an Executive Bonus Plan for our executive officers and other senior management employees in 2007.officers. Annual cash bonuses are based on the achievement of company-wide net income and expense leverage goals. Cash bonuses are set as a percentage of the executive officer’s base salary. Please see
In addition, our Compensation DiscussionCommittee administers our Amended and Analysis forRestated 2007 Stock Incentive Plan and our Amended and Restated 1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. To the extent permitted by applicable law, our Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee may delegate to our Chief Executive Officer its authority to grant options and other awards that constitute rights under Delaware law under our Amended and Restated 2007 Stock Incentive Plan to employees and non-executive officers, provided that it will fix the terms of such awards to be granted by the Chief Executive Officer (including the exercise price of such awards, which may include a further discussionformula by which the exercise price will be determined) and the maximum number of ourshares subject to awards that the Chief Executive Bonus Plan.Officer may grant. The Board of Directors has delegated authority to the Chief Executive Officer to issue options to employees and non-executive officers of up to 20,000 shares per individual per year.
We have generally set our compensation paid to non-officer members of our Board of Directors to be consistent with compensation paid to directors of similar-sized companies. In 20072010 we paid an annuala standard quarterly retainer fee of $36,000$10,000 to each of Messrs. Barone, Baute, Hall, and Weatherson. Messrs. Barone, Baute, Hall, and Weatherson also each received $1,500our non-officer directors for their service on the Board as well as $2,500 for each Board meeting attended, and Messrs. Barone, Baute and Weatherson each received $1,500 for each Board Committee meeting they attended. As one of our executive officers, Mr. Beffa-Negrini did not receive any additional compensation in 2007 for his service on our Board of Directors. Ms. Gallup has never received compensation for her serviceservices on our Board of Directors.
The Compensation Committee has the authority to retain compensation consultants and other outside advisors to assist in the evaluation of executive officer compensation as evidenced by its retention of Pearl Meyer & Partners. During 2007 thecompensation. In 2010 our Compensation Committee did not employ a compensation consultant because the Committee believed the August 2005retained Pearl Meyer & Partners, study, together witha national consulting firm, as its independent compensation consultant to conduct a competitive assessment of our executive compensation and general compensation programs. Pearl Meyer & Partners provided comparative market data on compensation practices and programs based on an analysis of twelve peer companies deemed comparable in terms of product and service offerings and revenue levels. The Compensation Committee used the updated salary information obtainedreport to assist in 2007, was sufficient to provide guidancethe review of executive compensation, and as discussed below, our executive officers did not receive annual merit increases in setting 2007 compensation levels.2010.
Controlled Company StatusOversight of Risk
We are a “Controlled Company” as defined in Nasdaq Stock Market Rule 4350(c). Our Board of Directors has based this determinationoversees our risk management processes directly and through its committees. Our management is responsible for risk management on the fact that approximately 64%a day-to-day basis. The role of our voting stock is beneficially owned or controlled by Ms. Gallup and Mr. Hall.
We do not have a standing nominating committee, and the functions of evaluating and selecting directors have been performed by our Board of Directors as a whole. We believe that itand its committees is not necessary to have a nominating committee becauseoversee the risk management activities of management. They fulfill this duty by discussing with management the policies and practices utilized by management in assessing and managing risks and providing input on those policies and practices. In general, our directors have generally served for extended terms. Our Board of Directors willoversees risk management activities relating to business strategy, capital allocation, organizational structure, and certain operational risks; our Audit Committee oversees risk management activities related to financial controls and legal and compliance risks, and our Compensation Committee oversees risk management activities relating to the Company’s compensation policies and practices. Each committee reports to the full Board on a regular basis, including reports with respect to the committee’s risk oversight activities as appropriate. In addition, since risk issues often overlap, committees from time to time evaluate biographical information and background material relating to potential candidates and interview selected candidates. Ourrequest that the full Board of Directors does not currently have a charter or written policy with regard to the nomination process. We do not have a written policy due to the extended terms served by our directors.discuss particular risks.
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Director Candidates
All of the current members of our Board of Directors have served as directors since 2002, except Mr. Weatherson and Ms. Duckett, who became a directordirectors in June 2005.2005 and June 2009, respectively. Where called for, qualifications for consideration as a director nominee may vary according to the particular areas of expertise being sought as a complement to the existing board composition. Minimum qualifications include high-level leadership experience in business activities, breadth of knowledge about issues affecting us, experience on other boards of directors, preferably public company boards, and time available for meetings and consultation on Company matters. OurWhile we do not have a formal policy with regard to the consideration of diversity in identifying director nominees, our Board of Directors desires a diverse group of candidates who possess the background,represent a diversity of viewpoints, backgrounds, skills, and expertise that enable them to make a significant contribution to our Board of Directors, our Company, and stockholders. In the event of a need for a new or additional director, our Board of Directors would evaluate potential nominees by reviewing their qualifications, results of personal and reference interviews, and such other information as the Board may deem relevant.
We do not currently employ an executive search firm, or pay a fee to any other third party, to locate qualified candidates for director positions.
Our Board of Directors has generally nominated the current directors for re-election at each annual meeting of stockholders. Our Board of Directors has therefore not established special procedures for security holders to
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submit director recommendations. If we were to receive recommendations of candidates from our security holders, the Board of Directors would consider such recommendations in the same manner as all other candidates. Shareholders who wish to suggest qualified candidates should send relevant information to the attention of the Corporate Secretary, PC Connection, Inc., 730 Milford Road, Merrimack, New Hampshire 03054 (603-683-2164).
Communicating with the Independent Directors
We have not implemented a process for our stockholders to send communications to our Board of Directors, other than as set out elsewhere in this proxy. We have not done so primarily due to our status as a controlled company, as discussed earlier.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics Policy
We have adopted a written Code of Business Conduct and Ethics Policy (the “Policy”) that applies to our directors, officers, and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial and accounting officer, controller, and persons performing similar functions. We have posted our Policy on our website (http:athttp://ir.pcconnection.com)ir.pcconnection.com. In addition, we intend to post on our website all disclosures that are required by law or Nasdaq Stock Market listing standards concerning any amendments to, or waivers from, any provision of the Policy.Policy that occur in the future.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires our directors, executive officers, and holders of more than 10% of our Common Stock to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in beneficial ownership of our Common Stock. Based solely on our review of copies of reports filed by individuals required to make filings, or Reporting Persons, pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act or written representations from certain Reporting Persons, we believe that all such reports required to be filed under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act for 20072010 were timely filed.filed, except that Mr. Polizzi, an executive officer, failed to timely file a Form 4 to report the February 2, 2010 receipt of a stock option grant of 25,000 shares. Mr. Polizzi reported the receipt of the stock options on a Form 3 filed with the SEC on February 10, 2010.
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Director Compensation
Our non-officer directors are each entitled to receive a standard annualquarterly retainer feesfee of $36,000$10,000 for their service on the Board as well as $2,500 for each Board meeting and $1,500 for each individual Board meeting and Board Committee meeting they attend. Our directors who are also officers doMs. Gallup does not receive any additional compensation for theirher role as directors.director. Board members also receive reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred in attending Board and committee meetings.
As more fully described below, the following table describes compensation paid to each director not listed as a Named Executive Officernamed executive officer for the year ended December 31, 2007.2010.
Director Compensation for Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 20072010
Name | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($)(1) | Stock Awards ($)(2)(3)(4) | Total ($) | Total Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($)(1) | All Other Compensation ($) | Total ($) | |||||||||||||||
Bruce Barone | $ | 54,000 | $ | 12,393 | $ | 66,393 | |||||||||||||||
David Hall | $ | 52,500 | 100,000 | (2) | $ | 152,500 | |||||||||||||||
Joseph Baute | 54,000 | 12,393 | 66,393 | 64,500 | — | 64,500 | |||||||||||||||
Barbara Duckett | 64,500 | — | 64,500 | ||||||||||||||||||
Donald Weatherson | 54,000 | — | 54,000 | 64,500 | — | 64,500 | |||||||||||||||
David Hall | 42,000 | — | 42,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
David Beffa-Negrini | 50,000 | 6,760 | (3) | 56,760 |
(1) | The fees earned by each non-officer director consist of the following: (i) |
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(2) |
(3) |
Name | Aggregate Number of Shares Subject to Restricted Stock Awards | Value of awards pursuant to SFAS 123(R) ($) | |||
Bruce Barone | 3,750 | $ | 37,200 | ||
Joseph Baute | 3,750 | 37,200 | |||
Donald Weatherson | — | — | |||
David Hall | — | — |
Name | Aggregate Number of Shares Subject to Stock Options | Value of awards pursuant to SFAS 123(R) ($) | |||
Bruce Barone | 3,000 | $ | 11,370 | ||
Joseph Baute | 2,500 | 22,050 | |||
Donald Weatherson | — | — | |||
David Hall | — | — |
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation Discussion And Analysis
The Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors oversees the design and implementation of our executive compensation program. In this role, the Compensation Committee, which is comprised of three independent directors, evaluates the performance of, and reviews and approves annually all compensation decisions relating to our Chief Executive Officer. Our Chief Executive Officer annually reviews the performance of our other Named Executive Officers and makes recommendations regarding their compensation. Our Compensation Committee may adopt or revise such recommendations in making compensation decisions for our other Named Executive Officers. The Compensation Committee has established a subcommittee, comprised of two outside directors, and delegated to that subcommittee authority to issue equity awards and to determine other qualified performance-based compensation in accordance with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Compensation Objectives
Our Compensation Committee’s primary objectives with respect to executive compensation are to attract, retain, and motivate our executives and to create long-term stockholder value. Additionally, the Committee seeks to ensure that executive compensation is aligned with our corporate strategies and business objectives, and that it promotes the achievement of key strategic and financial performance measures by linking short- and long-term cash and equity incentives to the achievement of measurable company performance goals.
To achieve these objectives, the Compensation Committee evaluates our executive compensation program with the goal of setting compensation at levels the Committee believes are competitive with those of other companies in our industry and our region that compete with us for executive talent. In addition, our executive compensation program ties a substantial portion of each executive’s overall compensation to managing their respective areas of responsibility and meeting key strategic, financial, and operational goals. These goals include success in (a) demonstrated leadership ability, (b) management development, (c) compliance with our policies, and (d) anticipation of, and response to, changing market and economic conditions that enhance our ability to operate profitably. From time to time, we also provide a portion of our executive compensation in the form of stock options and restricted stock grants that vest over time, which we believe helps to attract new management talent, as well as retain our existing executives. We believe such grants align our executives’ interests with those of our stockholders by allowing them to participate in the longer-term success of our company as reflected in stock price appreciation.
We compete with many other companies for executive personnel. Accordingly, the Compensation Committee generally targets overall base salary and bonus compensation for executives at or near the midpoint of compensation paid to similarly situated executives of companies analyzed in our survey data, described more fully below. The Committee is currently reviewing the various components of long-term incentives, including equity awards and deferred compensation, to determine how best to attract and retain key executives. We may vary this general target in certain situations when necessary, due to the experience level of the individual or other market factors.
Components of our Executive Compensation Program
The primary elements of our executive compensation program are:
base salary;
executive bonus plan;
equity awards;
benefits and other compensation; and
severance benefits.
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Allocations between long-term and short-term compensation, cash and non-cash compensation, or the different forms of non-cash compensation vary, depending on our current initiatives and stated goals. Our goals for 2007 were focused on continuing the growth trend in consolidated net sales and net income that we established in 2006 and, additionally, achieving a better leveraging of our expense structure by reducing our selling, general and administrative, or SG&A, expenses as a percentage of net sales below that of 2006. Accordingly, our 2007 executive bonus plan was designed to help achieve these two objectives. A total of 60% of the bonus was allocated to the achievement of a net income target of $20.5 million, and 40% was allocated to achievement of an SG&A expense target of 10% of net sales. Each component was then applied to a multiplier based on the degree to which the respective target was met or exceeded, ranging from 0.5 to 1.0 for the expense target and from 0.5 to 1.7 for the net income target. No bonuses were to be paid for performance below $18.5 million of net income or SG&A expenses in excess of 10.6% of net sales.
Our 2007 net income was $23.0 million, and 60% of the 2007 executive cash bonus was subject to a multiplier of 1.2. Our SG&A expenses were 10.2% of net sales, and 40% of the 2007 executive cash bonus was subject to a multiplier of .82. Non-cash compensation was not a significant factor in 2007.
Our executive officers work together as a team and all executives are assigned the same company-wide net income and expense leverage goals. Individual goals are not assigned.
In 2005 our Compensation Committee retained Pearl Meyer & Partners, a national consulting firm, as its independent compensation consultant to conduct a competitive assessment of our executive compensation and general compensation programs. Pearl Meyer & Partners provided comparative market data on compensation practices and programs based on an analysis of twelve peer companies deemed comparable in terms of product and service offerings and revenue levels. Pearl Meyer & Partners also provided two additional surveys with similar compensation data – the 2005 Clark Consulting SC/CHIPS Executive and Senior Management Survey and the 2005 Mercer Benchmark Database. From these three studies, two market composites were calculated, one reflecting the average of the Peer Group and Technology Industry and one reflecting the average of the Peer Group and the general industry survey data for similar size companies. We compiled individual compensation ranges for each executive position based on this information and compared the compensation ranges to actual salary levels. We updated our compensation ranges in 2007 by 2.6% after applying a combination of competitor trend information and consumer price indexes.
The peer group was used to benchmark executive compensation levels against companies that have executive positions with responsibilities similar in breadth and scope to ours and that compete with us for executive talent. The following companies were included in the peer group:
Agilysys, Inc.
Bell Microproducts Inc.
Black Box Corporation
CDW Corporation
GameStop Corp.
GTSI Corp.
Insight Enterprises, Inc.
PC Mall, Inc.
Pomeroy IT Solutions, Inc.
ScanSource, Inc.
Systemax Inc.
Zones, Inc.
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An analysis based on currently available financial data shows that amongst the peer group we ranked seventh in revenue and eighth in market capitalization as of the date of the Pearl Meyer & Partners study.
The Compensation Committee used the updated survey data to assist it in the review and comparison of each element of base salary and bonus compensation for our executives. With this information, the Compensation Committee analyzed compensation for each executive. The Compensation Committee targeted different compensation levels for each element of compensation as described below.
Base Salary
The median base salary level of the survey data was targeted by the Compensation Committee as the base salaries of our executives. Adjustments to the median base salary level were made based on comparisons to the survey data and evaluation of the executive’s level of responsibility and experience as well as company-wide performance. The Compensation Committee also considered the executive’s success in achieving business results and demonstrating leadership.
While each executive is expected to manage his/her area of responsibility successfully, our success is believed to be dependent on the ability of our management group to integrate and work together to meet common goals. Accordingly, executives are not assigned specific individual goals but instead are collectively responsible for meeting company-wide goals.
The compensation levels of our executives are established to recognize the relative level of responsibility of each executive. Our Chief Executive Officer’s compensation is higher than the levels of our other executives reflecting the generally broader and more significant level of responsibility of our Chief Executive Officer. We have found that compensation survey results generally reflect this pattern for most companies.
Benchmarking and aligning base salaries is especially critical to a competitive compensation program. Other elements of compensation are affected by changes in base salary. Annual incentives are targeted and paid out as a percentage of base salary, and the target levels of long-term incentives are also set as a percentage of base salary.
Base salaries are reviewed at least annually by the Compensation Committee, and in the case of Named Executive Officers other than our Chief Executive Officer, are based on recommendations of the Chief Executive Officer. These salaries are adjusted from time to time to realign salaries with market levels after taking into account individual responsibilities, performance, experience, and the peer group data. The base salaries of the Chief Financial Officer and the Executive Vice President of our Enterprise Group were each increased in 2007 by the Compensation Committee to a level slightly above the median levels reported for the peer group in recognition of each respective officer’s increased level of responsibility and experience over comparable officers included in the peer group. Our Chief Executive Officer was offered but declined a similar base compensation adjustment.
Executive Bonus Plan
In 2007, we had an executive bonus plan for our executives and other senior management employees. The annual cash bonuses are intended to compensate for the achievement of a company-wide net income goal and an operating expense leverage goal.
Amounts payable under the executive bonus plan are calculated as a percentage of the applicable executive’s base salary with higher-ranked executives typically being compensated at a higher percentage of base salary. However, our success is believed to be dependent on the ability of the management group to integrate and work together to meet common company-wide goals. Accordingly, executives are not assigned specific individual goals but instead are collectively responsible for meeting company-wide goals. A consolidated net income goal of $20.5 million was established for 2007, reflecting our growth target for the year. Additionally, an
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expense leverage goal was established to reduce 2007 consolidated SG&A expenses as a percentage of net sales to 10%, or 70 basis points below our 2006 expense ratio (which excluded special charges relating to events prior to 2006).
Our Compensation Committee works with our Chief Executive Officer to develop corporate goals that they believe can be reasonably achieved over the next year. Our Board of Directors approved the 2007 Executive Bonus Plan, and an aggregate of $1,555,100 was accrued for distribution to the Named Executive Officers under that plan for the year ended December 31, 2007, based on achievement of company-wide net income and expense-leverage targets.For our Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice Presidents, the target bonus percentage is 100% of base salary. For the other named executive officers it is 50% of base salary. Our compensation program also provides incentives for our executives to reach beyond our target corporate goals. Those who perform above expectations are entitled to receive additional bonus amounts that can result in a total annual bonus of up to 142% of base salary for our Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice Presidents, and up to 71% of base salary for our other named executive officers. Proportionally lower bonuses are provided for achievement levels between 90% and 100% of respective company-wide targets, and no bonuses are earned by any executive where less than 90% of the respective company-wide target is achieved.
The table below describes the bonus payments and the percentage of base salary for 2007 for the Named Executive Officers:
Name of Executive | 2007 Bonus Payments | Percentage of 2007 Base Salary | ||||
Patricia Gallup | $ | 524,000 | 104.8 | % | ||
Jack Ferguson | 324,900 | 104.8 | ||||
Timothy McGrath | 461,100 | 104.8 | ||||
Bradley Mousseau | 125,800 | 52.4 | ||||
David Beffa-Negrini | 119,300 | 52.4 |
Equity Awards
Our equity award program is a vehicle for offering long-term incentives to our executives. We believe that equity grants help attract management talent and provide a strong link to our long-term performance and help to align the interests of our executives and our stockholders. In addition, the vesting feature of our equity grants furthers our goal of executive retention by providing an incentive to our executives to remain in our employ during the vesting period. In determining the size of equity grants to our executives, the Compensation Committee and the Chief Executive Officer consider comparative share ownership of executives in our compensation peer group, our company-wide performance, the applicable executive’s performance, the amount of equity previously awarded to the executive, the vesting of such awards and the recommendationaggregate number of management.
Our equityoption awards have typically taken the formoutstanding as of stock options and restricted stock awards. The Compensation Committee and our Chief Executive Officer review all components of the executive’s compensation when determining equity awards to ensure that an executive’s total compensation conforms to our overall philosophy and objectives.
Typically, the equity awards we grant vest in equal annual installments over four years, although shorter vesting periods may be applied in certain circumstances. Vesting and exercise rights cease shortly after termination of employment except in the case of death or disability. We do not have any equity ownership guidelines for our executives.
In 2007 we granted options to purchase 50,000 shares to Mr. Ferguson and options to purchase 140,000 shares to Mr. McGrath. Mr. Ferguson’s options vest in two installments of 25,000 shares on December 31, 2007 and 2008, respectively. Mr. McGrath’s options vest2010 for each director not listed as follows: 20,000 shares on December 31, 2007; 30,000a named executive officer.
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shares on December 31, 2008, 40,000 shares on December 31, 2009; and 50,000 shares on December 31, 2010. Additionally, we granted 25,000 shares of restricted stock to Mr. Ferguson, which vest in full on December 31, 2008. Although we have provided equity based incentive compensation to our executive officers, we do not regularly grant equity based incentive compensation. We granted the options awards to Messrs. Ferguson and McGrath in 2007 to award them for their increased levels of responsibility. We believe that cash compensation using base salaries and annual incentive plan payments is a fair method of compensating our executive officers without equity dilution to our stockholders, although we are continuing to review long-term incentives as a means to attract and retain key executives.
Benefits and Other Compensation
We maintain broad-based benefits that are provided to all employees, including health and dental insurance, life and disability insurance, and a 401(k) plan. Executives are eligible to participate in all of our employee benefit plans, in each case on the same basis as other employees. We provide a matching contribution equal to 25% of the employee’s deferral contributions that do not exceed 6% of their qualified compensation.
No executive officer received perquisites aggregating $10,000 or more in 2007.
Severance Benefits
Pursuant to employment agreements we have entered into with Timothy McGrath, Executive Vice President, Enterprise Group and Bradley Mousseau, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, each executive is entitled to specified benefits in the event of termination of their employment under specified circumstances, including termination following a change of control of our company. We have provided more detailed information about these benefits, along with estimates of their value under various circumstances, under the caption “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control” below.
We believe providing these benefits helps us compete for executive talent. After reviewing the practices of companies represented in the compensation peer group, we believe that our severance and change of control benefits are generally in line with severance packages offered to executives by the companies in the peer group.
Name | Aggregate Number of Shares of Stock Awards | Aggregate Number of Shares of Option Awards | ||||||
Joseph Baute | 3,000 | 2,500 | ||||||
David Beffa-Negrini | 2,000 | 2,500 | ||||||
Barbara Duckett | 3,333 | — | ||||||
David Hall | — | — | ||||||
Donald Weatherson | 3,000 | 40,000 |
Tax and Accounting Considerations
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, generally disallows a tax deduction for compensation in excess of $1.0 million$1,000,000 paid to our Chief Executive Officer and ourthe three other officers (other than the Chief Financial Officer) whose compensation is required to be disclosedreported to our stockholders underpursuant to the Exchange Act by reason of being among our four most highly compensatedpaid executive officers. Qualifying performance-based compensation is not subject to the deduction limitation if specified requirements are met. We periodically review the potential consequences of Section 162(m) and wegenerally intend to structure the performance-basedequity-based portion of our executive compensation, where feasible, and our annual bonus program to comply with exemptions in Section 162(m) so that the compensation remainswould remain tax deductible to us. However, the Compensation
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Committee may, in its judgment, authorize compensation payments that do not comply with the exemptions in Section 162(m) when it believes that such payments are appropriate to attract and retain executive talent.
We account for equity compensation awarded to our employees per the methods prescribed by SFAS 123(R), which require us to recognize compensation expense in our financial statements for all share-based payments based upon an estimate of their fair value over the service period of the award. We record cash compensation as an expense at the time the obligation is accrued. Given our adoption of SFAS 123(R), we believe that the accounting impact of the different forms of equity compensation awards generally reflects their economic impact. Accordingly, the underlying accounting treatment is not a material consideration in determining the specific nature or size of equity awards granted. The tax impact of the awards on the recipient, together with the effectiveness of the award in retaining executives are more relevant considerations.
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SummaryExecutive Compensation Table
The following table sets forth information for our Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officer, and our threetwo other most highly compensated executive officers who were serving as executive officers as of December 31, 2007,2010, collectively, the Named Executive Officers for the fiscal years indicated.
Summary Compensation Table for Fiscal Years Ended December 31, 20072010 and 20062009
Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary ($) | Stock Awards ($)(1) | Option Awards ($)(1) | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)(2) | All Other Compensation ($)(3) | Total ($) | ||||||||||||||
Patricia Gallup President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Board | 2007 2006 | $
| 500,000 476,731 | $
| — — | $
| — — | $
| 524,000 750,000 | $
| 3,375 3,300 | (4) (5) | $
| 1,027,375 1,230,031 | |||||||
Jack Ferguson (6) Executive Vice President, Treasurer, and Chief Financial Officer | 2007 2006 |
| 297,885 271,856 |
| 100,281 — | | 156,320 — |
| 324,900 210,000 |
| 3,375 2,549 | (4) (5) |
| 882,761 484,405 | |||||||
Timothy McGrath(7) Executive Vice President, Enterprise Group | 2007 2006 |
| 423,846 300,000 |
| — — |
| 226,367 52,424 |
| 461,100 75,000 |
| 3,341 2,218 | (4) (5) |
| 1,114,654 429,642 | |||||||
Bradley Mousseau Senior Vice President, Human Resources | 2007 2006 |
| 240,000 226,462 |
| — — |
| 11,278 38,117 |
| 125,800 180,000 |
| 2,815 2,561 | (4) (5) |
| 379,893 447,140 | |||||||
David Beffa-Negrini Senior Vice President, Corporate Marketing and Creative Services | 2007 | 217,692 | — | 11,278 | 119,300 | 3,375 | (4) | 351,645 |
Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary ($)(1) | Stock Awards ($)(2) | Option Awards ($)(2) | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)(3) | All Other Compensation ($)(4) | Total ($) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Patricia Gallup | 2010 | $ | 750,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 1,000,000 | $ | — | $ | 1,750,000 | |||||||||||||||
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board | 2009 | 750,000 | — | — | 790,600 | 3,675 | (5) | 1,544,275 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Timothy McGrath | 2010 | 532,692 | 243,720 | 281,910 | 825,000 | — | 1,883,322 | |||||||||||||||||||||
President and Chief Operating Officer(6) | 2009 | 500,000 | 394,600 | — | 527,100 | 17,008 | (5) | 1,438,708 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Jack Ferguson | 2010 | 340,000 | — | — | 510,000 | — | 850,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Executive Vice President, Treasurer, and Chief Financial Officer | 2009 | 340,000 | 101,375 | — | 358,400 | 2,754 | (5) | 802,529 |
(1) |
(2) | Valuation represents the aggregate grant date fair value of the stock and option awards granted |
Non-equity incentive compensation for our executive officers was awarded pursuant to the Executive Bonus |
We have omitted perquisites and other personal benefits in those instances where the aggregate amount of such perquisites and other personal benefits totaled less than $10,000. |
(5) | Consists of: (a) our contributions for Ms. Gallup and Messrs. |
(6) | In connection with his election as President and Chief Operating Officer, Mr. |
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Grants of Plan Based Awards
The following table sets forth certain information regarding grants of plan-based awards made to our Named Executive Officers during 2007.
Grants of Plan Based Awards for Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2007
Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards (1) | All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock or Units(#) | All Other Option Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Options(#) | Exercise or Base Price of Option Awards ($/Sh)(2) | Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards ($)(3) | |||||||||||||||||||
Name | Grant Date | Threshold ($) | Target ($) | Maximum ($) | |||||||||||||||||||
Patricia Gallup | 04/20/07 | $ | 250,000 | $ | 500,000 | $ | 710,000 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
Jack Ferguson | 04/20/07 | 155,000 | 310,000 | 440,200 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
07/23/07 | — | — | — | 25,000 | (4) | — | — | 328,250 | |||||||||||||||
07/23/07 | — | — | — | — | 50,000 | (5) | 13.13 | 312,640 | |||||||||||||||
Timothy McGrath | 04/20/07 | 220,000 | 440,000 | 624,800 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
07/23/07 | — | — | — | — | 140,000 | (6) | $ | 13.13 | $ | 1,162,126 | |||||||||||||
Bradley Mousseau | 04/20/07 | 60,000 | 120,000 | 170,400 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
David Beffa-Negrini | 04/20/07 | 56,925 | 113,850 | 161,667 | — | — | — | — |
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Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The following table sets forth certain information regarding outstanding equity awards held by our Named Executive Officers as of December 31, 2007.2010.
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 20072010
Option Awards | Stock Awards | Option Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable | Option Exercise Price ($)(1) | Option Expiration Date | Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#) | Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($) | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable | Option Exercise Price ($)(1) | Option Expiration Date | Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#) | Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($)(2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Patricia Gallup | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Timothy McGrath | 50,000 | $ | 5.200 | 10/24/2015 | 50,000 | (3) | $ | 443,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
140,000 | 13.130 | 7/23/2017 | 75,000 | (4) | 664,500 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
18,750 | 56,250 | (5) | 6.770 | 04/15/2020 | 37,500 | (6) | 332,250 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jack Ferguson | 1,500 | — | $ | 18.333 | 1/21/2010 | 25,000 | (2) | 283,750 | (3) | 1,000 | — | 10.813 | 3/16/2011 | 12,500 | (7) | 110,750 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
1,000 | — | 51.813 | 7/17/2010 | — | — | 20,500 | — | 5.380 | 12/30/2015 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1,000 | — | 10.813 | 3/16/2011 | — | — | 50,000 | 13.130 | 7/23/2017 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
20,500 | — | 5.380 | 12/30/2015 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
25,000 | 25,000 | (4) | 13.130 | 7/23/2017 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Timothy McGrath | 20,000 | 50,000 | (5) | 5.200 | 10/24/2015 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
120,000 | (6) | 13.130 | 7/23/2017 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bradley Mousseau | 30,000 | — | 18.333 | 1/21/2010 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3,750 | — | 51.813 | 7/17/2010 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
David Beffa-Negrini | 7,500 | — | 8.917 | 9/24/2009 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3,750 | — | 18.333 | 1/21/2010 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2,500 | — | 51.813 | 7/17/2010 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2,500 | — | 10.813 | 3/16/2011 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12,500 | — | 5.540 | 4/18/2013 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
50,000 | — | 8.640 | 12/12/2013 | — | — |
(1) | The option exercise price for |
(2) |
The market value of |
The restricted stock awarded to Mr. |
(4) | The restricted stock awarded to Mr. McGrath vests annually in three installments of 25,000 shares beginning on August 18, 2011. |
(5) | Mr. McGrath’s stock option vests annually in three installments of 18,750 shares beginning on August 18, 2011. |
(6) | The restricted stock awarded to Mr. |
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Option Exercises and Stock Vested
The following table sets forth certain information regarding stock options exercised by our Named Executive Officers in the year ended December 31, 2007.
Option Exercises and Stock Vested for Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2007
Option Awards | |||||
Name | Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#) | Value Realized on Exercise (1) ($) | |||
Timothy McGrath | 25,000 | $ | 204,335 | ||
Bradley Mousseau | 20,000 | 132,278 |
The |
Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control
We are a party tohave entered into an employment agreement with Ms. Gallup. The agreement contains provisions for establishing her annual base salary and bonus and may be terminated by Ms. Gallup or us. We have entered into letter agreements with Messrs.Mr. McGrath, and Mousseau, providing for severance payments for sixtwelve months, or until such time as he secures other employment (whichever is earlier), of theirhis then respective annual base salary if we terminate theirhis employment for any reason other than for cause or for a change in control (as defined therein).cause. Under such circumstances, Mr. Mousseau’s and Mr. McGrath’s severance payments would have an aggregate value of $120,000 and $220,000, respectively. In the event$550,000. Such payments are conditioned upon our receipt of termination resultinga general release of claims from a change in control of our Company, Mr. Mousseau’s severance payments would extend for a total of twelve months and have an aggregate value of $240,000.McGrath. Mr. McGrath’s severance payments would extend for a total of six months and have an aggregate value of $220,000. Each of Messrs. McGrath’s and Mousseau’s letter agreement includes certain non-compete and non-solicit obligations that extend for eighteentwenty-four months after termination of employment. We assume, for the purpose of calculating values for all termination events, that the effective date of termination is December 31, 2007.2010.
In the event that we undergo a change in control (referred to as an “Acquisition Event” in the Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Incentive Plan and a “Reorganization Event” in the Amended and Restated 2007 Stock Incentive Plan) and as a result our Board of Directors accelerates the vesting of all outstanding unvested equity awards, Mr.Messrs. McGrath and Mr. Ferguson would realize $307,500$1,557,313 and $283,750,$110,750, respectively, based on the closing price of our Common Stock on December 31, 20072010 of $11.35$8.86 per share, assuming the exercisevesting and sale by each of their in-the-money options.unvested equity awards presented above.
Compensation Committee Report
Our Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K with our management. Based on this review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to our Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement.
By the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of PC Connection:
Donald Weatherson, Chairman
Bruce Barone
Joseph Baute
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Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
The members of the Compensation Committee are Messrs. Barone, Baute, and Weatherson. Messrs. Barone and Baute were not at any time during 2007, or formerly, an officer or employee of the Company or any of our subsidiaries. None of our executive officers has served as a director or member of the Compensation Committee (or other committee serving an equivalent function) of any other entity, one of whose executive officers served as our director or a member of our Compensation Committee.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
We currently have leases for facilities in Marlow and Merrimack, New Hampshire and two facilities in Keene, New Hampshire with Gallup & Hall, or G&H, a partnership owned solely by Patricia Gallup and David Hall, our principal stockholders. The lease for one of thethree facilities located in Marlow and Keene, New Hampshire facilities expires in July 2008 and requires annual rental payments of $141,276 (subject to adjustment every three years for changes in the consumer price index). The second facility in Keene isare leased on a month-to-month basis requiring monthly rental payments of $1,344. The facility in Marlow, New Hampshire is leased on a month-to-month basis requiring monthly rental payments of $500. We also lease on a month-to-month basis a facility in Merrimack, adjacent to our corporate headquarters requiring monthly rental payments of $18,141.$11,773, $1,344, and $500, respectively. These leases also obligate us to pay certain real estate taxes and insurance premiums on the premises. Rent expense under all suchthe three leases aggregated $381,102$163,404 for each of the yearyears ended December 31, 2007.2009 and 2010.
In November 1997, we entered into a fifteen-year lease for aan 114,000 square foot corporate headquarters in Merrimack, New Hampshire with G&H Post, L.L.C., an entity owned solely by Patricia Gallup and David Hall. We began occupying the new facility upon completion of construction in late November 1998, and lease payments began in December 1998. AnnualThe lease is in its thirteenth year; annual lease payments of $1,139,300 are required under the terms of the lease are $911,400 for the first five years of the lease, increasing to $1,025,350 for years six through ten and to $1,139,400 for years 11 through 15. The lease is in its tenth year. The lease requires us to pay our proportionate share of real estate taxes and common area maintenance charges as either additional rent or directly to third-party providers and also to pay insurance premiums for the leased property. We have the option to renew the lease for two additional terms of five years.
In August 2008, we entered into a ten-year lease agreement with Patricia Gallup and David Hall, our principal stockholders, for an office facility adjacent to our corporate headquarters. The lease requires an annual rental payment of $225,432 in year three of the lease and provides us the option to renew for two additional two-year terms. The rent for subsequent years shall be subject to adjustment to reflect increases in a local consumer price index, but such adjustments shall not exceed an increase of 5.0% per year. The lease requires us to pay our proportionate share of real estate taxes and common area maintenance charges either as additional rent or directly to third-party providers and to pay insurance premiums for the leased property. Rent expense under the lease agreement was $225,432 for each of the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2010.
During 20072010, we provided various facilities management, maintenance, financial, tax, and legal services to certain affiliates in connection with the operation of facilities leased by us from those affiliates. G&H reimbursed us $34,601$81,563 and $61,390 during 20072010 and 2009, respectively, for those services.
The 1998 PC Connection Voting Trust
In connection with our initial public offering in March 1998, Patricia Gallup and David Hall placed substantially all of the shares of Common Stock that they beneficially owned immediately prior to the public offering into a Voting Trust (the “Voting Trust”) of which they serve as co-trustees. The Voting Trust is the record holder of 16,338,188 shares of Common Stock as of the record date, April 2, 2008.8, 2011. The terms of the Voting Trust require that both Ms. Gallup and Mr. Hall, as co-trustees, agree as to the manner of voting the shares of our Common Stock held by the Voting Trust in order for the shares to be voted. In the event the co-trustees are deadlocked with respect to the election of directors at a meeting of stockholders, our Board of Directors may require the co-trustees to execute and deliver to our Secretary a proxy representing all shares issued and outstanding in the name of the Voting Trust and entitled to vote in the election of directors. Such proxy shall confer upon the proxyholder authority to attend the meeting for purposes of establishing a quorum and to vote for the directors nominated by our Board of Directors, provided that such nominees are incumbent directors elected with the consent of the co-trustees. Each of Ms. Gallup and Mr. Hall may transfer shares of Common Stock for value to unaffiliated third parties. Any shares so transferred will no longer be subject to the Voting Trust and an equal number of the non-transferring co-trustee’s shares will be released from the Voting Trust. Transfers by either of Ms. Gallup or Mr. Hall in excess of 75,000 shares in any 90-day period, or that would decrease the shares held by the Voting Trust to less than a majority of the outstanding shares, will be
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subject to a right of first refusal to the other. The Voting Trust will terminate when it holds less than 10% of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock or at the death of both co-trustees. In addition, in the event of the death or incapacity of either co-trustee, or when either of Ms. Gallup or Mr. Hall holds less than 25% of the beneficial
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interest held by the other in the Voting Trust, the other will become the sole trustee of the Voting Trust with the right to vote all the shares held by the Voting Trust.
All related party transactions discussed above and referenced in this proxy statement were on terms comparable to those we could have obtained in arms-length transactions with unaffiliated third parties.
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS
Our Board of Directors has adopted written policies and procedures for the review of any transaction, arrangement, or relationship in which we are a participant, the amount involved exceeds $120,000, and one of our executive officers, directors, director nominees, or 5% stockholders (or their immediate family members), each of whom we refer to as a “related person,” has a direct or indirect material interest.
If a related person proposes to enter into such a transaction, arrangement, or relationship, which we refer to as a “related person transaction,” the related person must report the proposed related person transaction to our Chief Financial Officer. The policy calls for the proposed related person transaction to be reviewed and, if deemed appropriate, approved by our Audit Committee. Whenever practicable, the reporting, review, and approval will occur prior to entry into the transaction. If advance review and approval is not practicable, the Audit Committee will review, and, in its discretion, may ratify the related person transaction. The policy also permits the chairman of the Audit Committee to review and, if deemed appropriate, approve proposed related person transactions that arise between committee meetings, subject to ratification by the Audit Committee at its next meeting. Any related person transactions that are ongoing in nature will be reviewed annually.
A related person transaction reviewed under the policy will be considered approved or ratified if it is authorized by the Audit Committee after full disclosure of the related person’s interest in the transaction. As appropriate for the circumstances, the Audit Committee will review and consider:
the related person’s interest in the related person transaction;
the approximate dollar value of the amount involved in the related person transaction;
the approximate dollar value of the amount of the related person’s interest in the transaction without regard to the amount of any profit or loss;
whether the transaction was undertaken in the ordinary course of our business;
whether the terms of the transaction are no less favorable to us than terms that could have been reached with an unrelated third party;
the purpose of, and the potential benefits to us of, the transaction; and
any other information regarding the related person transaction or the related person in the context of the proposed transaction that would be material to investors in light of the circumstances of the particular transaction.
The Audit Committee may approve or ratify the transaction only if the Audit Committee determines that, under all of the circumstances, the transaction is not inconsistent with our best interests. The Audit Committee may impose any conditions on the related person transaction that it deems appropriate.
In addition to the transactions that are excluded by the instructions to the SEC’s related person transaction disclosure rule, our Board of Directors has determined that the following transactions do not create a material direct or indirect interest on behalf of related persons and, therefore, are not related person transactions for purposes of this policy:
interests arising solely from the related person’s position as an executive officer of another entity (whether or not the person is also a director of such entity), that is a participant in the transaction, where
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(a) the related person and all other related persons own in the aggregate less than a 10% equity interest in such entity, (b) the related person and his or her immediate family members are not involved in the negotiation of the terms of the transaction and do not receive any special benefits as a result of the transaction, (c) the amount involved in the transaction equals less than the greater of $200,000 or 5% of the annual gross revenues of the company receiving payment under the transaction; and |
a transaction that is specifically contemplated by provisions of our charter or bylaws.
The policy provides that transactions involving compensation of executive officers shall be reviewed and approved by the Audit Committee in the manner specified in its charter.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table provides information about our Common Stock that may be issued upon exercise of options, warrants, and rights under all of our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2007,2010, including the Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Incentive Plan, the Amended and theRestated 2007 Stock Incentive Plan, orand the 2007 Plan,Amended and ourRestated 1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, or the ESPP. Our stockholders have approved all of these plans.
Plan Category | Number of Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants, and Rights (1) | Weighted-Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants, and Rights | Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans (Excluding Securities Reflected in Column (a)) (1)(2) | Number of Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants, and Rights(1) (a) | Weighted-Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants, and Rights (b) | Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans (Excluding Securities Reflected in Column (a)(1)(2) (c) | |||||||||||||
Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Security Holders | 875,998 | $ | 12.99 | 637,658 | 813,806 | $ | 9.10 | 311,426 | |||||||||||
Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Security Holders | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||
Total | 875,998 | $ | 12.99 | 637,658 | 813,806 | $ | 9.10 | 311,426 |
(1) | The number of shares is subject to adjustments in the event of stock splits and other similar events. |
(2) | Includes |
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PROPOSAL TWO
APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO EXECUTIVE BONUS PLAN
On April 9, 2008,14, 2011, our Board of Directors adopted, subject to stockholder approval, an amendment to the Company’s Executive Bonus Plan, or the Bonus Plan.Plan, to increase the maximum bonus award payable to a participating executive for any plan year from $1 million to $ 2 million.
Our Board of Directors believes that our future success depends, in large part, upon our ability to maintain a competitive position in attracting, retaining, and motivating key personnel.Accordingly, our Board of Directors believes adoption of the amendment to our Bonus Plan is in the best interests of our stockholders and our Company and recommends a vote “FOR” the approval of the amendment to our Bonus Plan.
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Description of the Bonus Plan, as amended
The following is a brief summary of the Executive Bonus Plan, aas amended. A copy of whichour Bonus Plan and the amendment approved by our Board of Directors is attached asAppendix A to this Proxy Statement.
Administration
The Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors will, through a Subcommitteesubcommittee consisting solely of outside directors within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, administer the Bonus Plan. We refer to this subcommittee as the Committee.
Eligibility
Each of our named executive officers, within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, is eligible to participate in this Plan. In addition, other executive officers may be determined from time to time to be eligible to participate in the Plan. As of April 8, 2011, we had four executive officers.
Determination of Bonus Awards
We refer to each fiscal year that the Bonus Plan is in effect as a “Plan Year.” Within 90 days after the beginning of each Plan Year, the Compensation Committee will establish specific performance measures for the payment of bonus awards for that Plan Year. For each Plan Year, the performance measures will include the attainment of a certain minimum level of consolidated net income and may also be based on one or more of the following additional quantifiable performance measures selected by the Committee: consolidated SG&A expenses; earnings per share; operating income; gross revenue; profit margins; stock price targets or stock price maintenance; working capital; free cash flow, cash flow; return on equity; return on capital or return on invested capital; earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, or EBITDA, and strategic business criteria, consisting of one or more objectives based on meeting specified revenue, market penetration, geographic business expansion goals, cost targets, or objective goals relating to acquisitions or divestitures. The precise annual amounts and bonus allocation percentages with respect to each performance measure will also be established by the Committee. Performance measures are generally based on our operating forecasts. However, the Committee may determine, in its sole discretion, that significant unusual or extraordinary items should or should not be included in determining whether the performance measures have been met.
Bonuses are calculated as a percentage of the participating executive’s annual base salary. Base level bonuses are 100% of base salary for our Chief Executive Officer, 100% of base salary for our President and any Executive Vice Presidents, and 50% of base salary for ourany Senior Vice Presidents. Actual bonus payouts may be higher or lower than the base level amounts, depending on the degree to which each performance measure is met or exceeded. Each performance measure is subject to a multiplier table which determines the extent to which that portion of the bonus is paid out. Awards relating to net income can range from 50% to 170% of the corresponding base bonus; however, no awards will be granted for net income below 90% of target. Awards relating to other
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performance measures established by the Committee are subject to the multiplier percentages selected by the Committee.
The maximum bonus award payable to a participating executive for any Plan Year is 170% of that executive’s annual base salary and in no event will exceed $1,000,000.$2,000,000.
At the end of each Plan Year, the Committee, in consultation with our Chief Executive Officer, determines the amount, if any, to be paid to each participating executive based on the extent that the performance measures for that Plan Year were achieved. The Committee may use negative discretion to decrease (but not increase) the amount of any bonus award otherwise payable to any participating executive under the Bonus Plan.
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Amendments and Termination
Our Board may at any time amend, suspend, or terminate the Plan, provided such action is effected by written resolution. Amendments to the Bonus Plan requiring stockholder approval under the Internal Revenue Code or SEC regulations will require such approval under the Plan.
Federal Income Tax Consequences
Payments received by executive officers under the Bonus Plan will be income subject to tax at ordinary income rates when received. Since the Bonus Plan is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code, if the Bonus Plan is approved by stockholders at the annual meeting, we expect that the bonus payments made in accordance with the terms of the Bonus Plan will qualify as performance-based compensation that is not subject to the limits of Section 162(m) of the Code and will therefore be deductible by us, subject to any other applicable limitations on deductibility under the Code.
New Plan Benefits
The following table sets forth, for illustrative purposes, the amounts which would be received by the named executive officers under the Executive Bonus Plan had the Executive Bonus Plan been in effect for 2007 based on 2008 performance targets, but with the percentage of the bonus payable based on our performance in 2007.
NEW PLAN BENEFITS
EXECUTIVE BONUS PLAN
(FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES)+
Name and Position | Executive Bonus Plan Dollar Value | ||
Patricia Gallup | $ | 314,000 | |
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer | |||
Jack Ferguson | 194,680 | ||
Executive Vice President, Treasurer, and Chief Financial Officer | |||
Timothy McGrath | 276,320 | ||
Executive Vice President, Enterprise Group | |||
Bradley Mousseau | 75,360 | ||
Senior Vice President, Human Resources | |||
David Beffa-Negrini | 71,498 | ||
Senior Vice President, Corporate Marketing and Creative Services | |||
All Executive Officers As A Group | 931,858 | ||
Non-Executive Director Group | — | ||
Non-Executive Officer Employee Group | — |
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PROPOSAL THREE
RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Audit Committee of our Board of Directors has selected the firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008.2011. The ratification of this selection by the Audit Committee is not required under the laws of the State of Delaware, where we are incorporated, but the results of this vote will be considered by the Audit Committee in selecting our independent registered public accounting firm. Deloitte & Touche LLP has served as our independent registered public accounting firm since 1984. It is expected that a member of Deloitte & Touche LLP will be present at the meeting with the opportunity to make a statement if so desired and will be available to respond to appropriate questions from stockholders.
Our Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” the ratification of the selection by the Audit Committee of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm.
Principal AccountantAccounting Fees and Services
The following table summarizes the fees Deloitte & Touche LLP, the member firms of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, and their affiliates billed to us for each of the last two fiscal years. The Audit Committee of our Board of Directors believes that the non-audit services described below did not compromise Deloitte & Touche’s independence.
Fee Category | 2007 | 2006 | 2010 | 2009 | ||||||||||
Audit Fees(1) | $ | 1,382,000 | $ | 642,000 | $ | 1,032,000 | $ | 1,100,000 | ||||||
Audit-Related Fees(2) | — | 8,000 | ||||||||||||
Tax Fees(3) | 178,000 | 240,000 | ||||||||||||
All Other Fees(4) | 2,000 | 2,000 | ||||||||||||
Tax Fees(2) | 293,000 | 210,000 | ||||||||||||
All Other Fees(3) | 2,000 | 2,000 | ||||||||||||
Total Fees | $ | 1,562,000 | $ | 892,000 | $ | 1,327,000 | $ | 1,312,000 | ||||||
(1) | Audit fees consist of fees for the audit of financial statements, the audit of internal control over financial reporting, |
(2) |
Tax fees consist of fees for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning services. Tax compliance services, which relate to preparation of original and amended tax returns, and claims for refunds and tax payment-planning services, accounted for |
All Other Fees consist of a fee for an accounting and audit-related subscription. |
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Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
Our Audit Committee has adopted policies and procedures relating to the approval of all audit and non-audit services that are to be performed by our independent registered public accounting firm. This policy generally provides that we will not engage itsan independent auditorregistered public accounting firm to render audit or non-audit services unless the service is specifically approved in advance by our Audit Committee or the engagement is entered into pursuant to one of the pre-approval procedures described below.
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From time to time, our Audit Committee may pre-approve specified types of services that are expected to be provided to us by our independent registered public accounting firm during the next twelve months. Any such pre-approval is detailed as to the particular service or type of services to be provided and is also generally subject to a maximum dollar amount.
Our Audit Committee mayhas also delegatedelegated to each individual memberthe Chairman of theour Audit Committee the authority to approve any audit or non-audit services to be provided to us by our independent registered public accounting firm. Any approval of services by a memberthe Chairman of our Audit Committee pursuant to this delegated authority is reported on at the next meeting of our Audit Committee.
Audit Committee Report
Our Audit Committee has reviewed our audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007,2010, and discussed them with our management and our registered public accounting firm.
The Audit Committee has also discussed with our registered public accounting firm various communications that our registered public accounting firm is required to provide to the Audit Committee, including the matters required to be discussed by the Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, or SAS 61, as amended (AICPA,Professional Standards, Vol. 1, AU section 380), as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3200T. The Audit Committee was satisfied with this discussion.
SAS 61, as amended, requires our registered public accounting firm to discuss with our Audit Committee, among other things, the following:
methods to account for significant unusual transactions;
the effect of significant accounting policies in controversial or emerging areas for which there is a lack of authoritative guidance or consensus;
the process used by management in formulating particularly sensitive accounting estimates and the basis for the registered public accounting firm’s conclusions regarding the reasonableness of those estimates; and
disagreements with management over the application of accounting principles, the basis for management’s accounting estimates, and the disclosures in the financial statements.
Our Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from our registered public accounting firm required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, Independence Discussions with Audit Committees), as adopted byapplicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3600T,regarding the registered public accounting firm’s communication with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with our registered public accounting firm their independence. Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 requires auditors annually to disclose in writing all relationships that in the auditor’s professional opinion may reasonably be thought to bear on independence, confirm their perceived independence, and engage in a discussion of independence.
Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to our Board of Directors that our audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.2010.
By the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of PC Connection:
Joseph Baute, Chairman
Bruce BaroneBarbara Duckett
Donald Weatherson
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Matters to be Considered at the Annual Meeting
Our Board of Directors does not know of any other matters which may come before the Annual Meeting. However, if any other matters are properly presented to the Annual Meeting, it is the intention of persons named in the accompanying proxy to vote, or otherwise act, in accordance with their judgment on such matters.
Householding of Annual Meeting Materials
Some banks, brokers, and other nominee record holders may be participating in the practice of “householding” proxy statements and annual reports. This means that only one copy of the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, proxy statement, or annual report may have been sent to multiple stockholders in your household. We will promptly deliver a separate copy of either documentthese documents to you if you write or call us at the following address or phone number: PC Connection, Inc., Attention: Investor Relations, 730 Milford Road, Merrimack, New Hampshire 03054 (603-683-2000)(603-683-2322). If you wish to receive separate copies of the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, the annual report, andor the proxy statement, as applicable in the future, or if you are receiving multiple copies and would like to receive only one copy for your household, you should contact your bank, broker, or other nominee record holder, or you may contact us at the above address and phone number.
A copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007,2010, as filed with the SEC, except for exhibits, will be furnished without charge to any stockholder upon written request to PC Connection, Inc., Attention: Investor Relations, 730 Milford Road, Merrimack, New Hampshire 03054 (603-683-2322).
Solicitation of Proxies
All costs of solicitations of proxies will be borne by us. In addition to solicitations by mail, our directors, officers, and regular employees, without additional remuneration, may solicit proxies by telephone, telegraph,mail, fax, and personal interviews. We will also request brokers, custodians, and fiduciaries to forward proxy soliciting material to the owners of stock held in their names, and we will reimburse them for their out-of-pocket expenses in this regard.
Deadline for Submission of Stockholder Proposals
Proposals of stockholders intended to be presented at the 20092012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must be received by us at our principal office in Merrimack, New Hampshire not later than December 29, 2008,27, 2011, for inclusion in the proxy statement for that meeting.
If a stockholder of our Company who holds less than 40% of the shares of our capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote wishes to present a proposal before the 20092012 Annual Meeting but has not complied with the requirements for inclusion of such proposal in our proxy materials pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, such stockholder must give timely notice of such proposal to our Secretary at our principal offices. The required notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at our principal executive offices not later than March 22, 200926, 2012 nor earlier than February 20, 2009.25, 2012. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if we provide less than 70 days notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to stockholders, notice by the stockholder or stockholders to be timely must be delivered or mailed to the Secretary not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the date on which the notice of the meeting was mailed or public disclosure was made, whichever occurs first.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
Patricia Gallup
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
April 10, 200815, 2011
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OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS HOPES THAT STOCKHOLDERS WILL ATTEND THE MEETING. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND, YOU ARE URGED TO COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN, AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY IN THE ACCOMPANYING ENVELOPE. YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE WILL GREATLY FACILITATE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE MEETING, AND YOUR COOPERATION WILL BE APPRECIATED.
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Appendix A
AMENDMENT NO. 1
TO EXECUTIVE BONUS PLAN
The Executive Bonus Plan (the “Plan”) of PC Connection, Inc. is hereby amended by deleting Section 4.2 in its entirety and replacing it with the following:
4.2 | Actual bonus payouts may be higher or lower than the base-level amounts, depending on the degree to which the individual performance measures are met or exceeded. Each performance measure is subject to a multiplier table which determines the extent to which that portion of the bonus is paid out. Awards relating to net income can range from 50% to 170% of the corresponding base bonus; however, no awards are granted for net income below 90% of target. Awards relating to other performance measures established by the Committee are subject to the multiplier percentages selected by the Committee. The maximum bonus award payable to a participating executive for any Plan Year is 170% of that executive’s annual base salary and in no event will exceed $2 million. |
Except as set forth above, the remainder of the Plan remains in full force and effect.
Adopted by the Board of Directors on April 14, 2011.
PC CONNECTION, INC.
EXECUTIVE BONUS PLAN
I. |
PC Connection, Inc. (the “Company”) has established this Executive Bonus Plan (the “Plan”) as an incentive program pursuant to which annual performance-based bonuses may be awarded to the Company’s eligible executive officers.
II. |
Each of the Company’s named executive officers, within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, is eligible to participate in this Plan. In addition, other executive officers may be determined from time to time to be eligible to participate in the Plan.
III. |
3.1 | The Plan has been adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors, (the “Board”), effective January 1, 2008. The Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Committee”) shall, through its Subcommittee consisting solely of outside directors within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, administer the Plan and shall periodically review it and make determinations with respect to the application of specific performance measures in the determination of incentive compensation. Consolidated net income, however, shall always be one of the performance measures under the Plan. All references in this document to actions by the Committee shall be appropriately supported as necessary by corresponding actions taken by the Subcommittee. |
3.2 | Each fiscal year that the Plan is in effect is referred to as a “Plan Year.” Within 90 days after the beginning of each Plan Year, the Compensation Committee will establish specific performance measures for the payment of bonus awards for that Plan Year. For each Plan Year, the performance measures will include the attainment of a certain minimum level of consolidated net income and may also be based on one or more of the following additional quantifiable performance measures selected by the Committee: consolidated SG&A expenses; earnings per share; operating income; gross revenue; profit margins; stock price targets or stock price maintenance; working capital; free cash flow, cash flow; return on equity; return on capital or return on invested capital; earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA); and strategic business criteria, consisting of one or more objectives based on meeting specified revenue, market penetration, geographic business expansion goals, cost targets, or objective goals relating to acquisitions or divestitures. The precise annual amounts and bonus allocation percentages with respect to each performance measure will also be established by the Committee. |
3.3 | Performance measures are generally based on the Company’s operating forecasts. However, the Committee may determine, in its sole discretion, that significant unusual or extraordinary items should or should not be included in determining whether the performance measures have been met. |
IV. |
4.1 | Bonuses are calculated as a percentage of the participating executive’s annual base salary. Base-level bonuses are set as follows: |
• Chief Executive Officer | 100% of base salary | |
• President | 100% of base salary | |
• Executive Vice President | 100% of base salary | |
• Senior Vice President | 50% of base salary |
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4.2 | Actual bonus payouts may be higher or lower than the base-level amounts, depending on the degree to which the individual performance measures are met or exceeded. Each performance measure is subject to a multiplier table which determines the extent to which that portion of the bonus is paid out. Awards relating to net income can range from 50% to 170% of the corresponding base bonus; however, no awards are granted for net income below 90% of target. Awards relating to other performance measures established by the Committee are subject to the multiplier percentages selected by the Committee. The maximum bonus award payable to a participating executive for any Plan Year is 170% of that executive’s annual base salary and in no event will exceed $1 million. |
4.3 | At the end of each Plan Year, the Committee shall, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer, determine the amount, if any, to be paid to each participating executive based on the extent that the performance measures for that Plan Year were achieved and shall authorize payment by the Company, in cash or other consideration or combination thereof, to such participating executive;provided that the Committee may use negative discretion to decrease (but not increase) the amount of any bonus award otherwise payable to any participating executive under the Plan. |
4.4 | Bonus awards shall be paid only to individuals who continue in the Company’s employ through the bonus payment date, unless otherwise approved by the Committee (which may be in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer);provided that no bonus (whether prorated or full) will be paid unless all of the applicable requirements set forth in this Plan are met, including without limitation that the Committee determines that all of the performance measures for the applicable Plan Year have been met and authorizes the payment of bonus awards. |
4.5 | Any payment to which an executive becomes entitled under the Plan shall be subject to the Company’s collection of all applicable federal and state income and employment withholding taxes. |
4.6 | Any bonus awards determined under the Plan will be paid to participating executives in cash or other consideration within 2 1/2 months following the end of the applicable Plan Year. |
V. |
5.1 | The Plan is effective as of January 1, 2008, and the initial bonuses will be established based on performance measures relating to the Company’s 2008 fiscal year. The Plan is subject to stockholder approval. Once approved, the Board may at any time amend, suspend, or terminate the Plan, provided such action is effected by written resolution; however, amendments to the Plan requiring stockholder approval under the Internal Revenue Code or SEC regulations require stockholder approval. |
5.2 | No bonuses awarded under the Plan shall actually be funded, set aside or otherwise segregated prior to payment. The obligation to pay the bonuses awarded hereunder shall at all times be an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company. Plan participants shall have the status of general creditors and shall look solely to the general assets of the Company for the payment of their bonus awards. |
5.3 | No Plan participant shall have the right to alienate, pledge or encumber his/her interest in any bonus award to which he/she may become entitled under the Plan, and such interest shall not (to the extent permitted by law) be subject in any way to the claims of the employee’s creditors or to attachment, execution or other process of law. |
5.4 | Neither the action of the Company in establishing the Plan, nor any action taken under the Plan by the Committee, nor any provision of the Plan shall be construed so as to grant any person the right to remain in the employ of the Company for any period of specific duration. Rather, each employee of the Company will be employed “at-will,” which means that either such employee or the Company may terminate the employment relationship of that individual at any time for any reason, with or without cause. |
5.5 | The laws of the State of Delaware (other than its choice of law provisions) govern this Plan and its interpretation. |
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ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF
PC CONNECTION, INC.
May 21, 200825, 2011
NOTICE OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIAL:
The Notice of Meeting, proxy statement, and proxy card
are available at http://ir.pcconnection.com/annuals.cfm
Please sign, date, sign, and mail
your proxy card in the
envelope provided as soon
as possible.
ê” Please detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope provided.ê”
| 052511 | |||||||||||||
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS AND “FOR” PROPOSALS NO.2 AND NO.3. PLEASE SIGN, DATE, AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN HEREx |
FOR | AGAINST | ABSTAIN | ||||||||||||||||||||
1. To elect the following six directors for the ensuing year: | 2. To | ¨ | ¨ | ¨ | ||||||||||||||||||
NOMINEES: | FOR | AGAINST | ABSTAIN | |||||||||||||||||||
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O David Hall
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O David Beffa-Negrini
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O Donald Weatherson | 3. To ratify the selection by the Audit Committee of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the | ¨ | ¨ | ¨ | ||||||||||||||||||
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WITHHOLD AUTHORITY FOR ALL NOMINEES | |||||||||||||||||||||
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FOR ALL EXCEPT (See instructions below) | |||||||||||||||||||||
In their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED “FOR” THE ELECTION OF ALL DIRECTOR NOMINEES AND “FOR” PROPOSALS NO.2. AND NO.3. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark“FOR ALL EXCEPT” and fill in the circle next to each nominee you wish to withhold, as shown here:l | ||||||||||||||||||||||
MARK HERE IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING¨ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
To change the address on your account, please check the box at right and indicate your new address in the address space above. Please note that changes to the registered name(s) on the account may not be submitted via this method. | ¨ |
Signature of Stockholder | Date: | Signature of Stockholder | Date: |
Note:
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| Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy. When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee, or guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person. |
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¨ | ¢ |
PC CONNECTION, INC.
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To be held on May 25, 2011
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY
The undersigned, revoking all prior proxies, hereby appoints Patricia Gallup and David Hall, each of them, with full power of substitution, as proxies (the “Proxies”) to represent and vote as designated hereon all shares of stock of PC Connection, Inc. (the “Company”) which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present at the 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held on Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 2 Somerset Parkway, Nashua, New Hampshire, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern time, or any adjournment thereof, with respect to the matters set forth on the reverse side hereof.
PLEASE FILL IN, SIGN, DATE, AND MAIL THIS PROXY
IN THE ENCLOSED RETURN ENVELOPE.
CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE
¢ | 14475 | ¢ |